Schiffli-embroidered panel and kit containing the same

ABSTRACT

An ornamental article consisting of a fabric panel with a Schiffli-embroidered design formed thereon; the fabric being treated to reject fluid coloring material which is absorbable by the embroidery yarn. The design is embroidered in mono-colored yarn and the coloring thereof is done as a do-it-yourself project by the purchaser of the panel. Commercially, such panel is packaged in a kit with the coloring materials, applicators, instructions, a frame and framing accessories for the panel.

United States Patent Conrad [54] SCHlFFLl-EMBROIDERED PANEL AND KIT CONTAINING THE SAME [72] Inventor: Erich Henry Conrad, Box 537,

Weaverville, N.C. 28787 [22] Filed: July 21, 1970 211 Appl. No.: 56,924

1451 0ct.3l, 1972 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 806,698 12/1958 Great Britain OTHER PUBLICATIONS Color Me Crazy, Page 43 of Washington Daily News for Oct. 9, 1964 Primary Examiner-Harland S. Skogquist Att0rneyVictor M. Helfand [57] ABSTRACT An ornamental article consisting of a fabric panel with a Schiffli-embroidered design formed thereon; the fabric being treated to reject fluid coloring material which is absorbable by the embroidery yarn. The design is embroidered in mono-colored yarn and the coloring thereof is done as a do-it-yourself project by the purchaser of the panel. Commercially, such panel is packaged in a kit with the coloring materials, applicators, instructions, a frame and framing accessories for the panel.

5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEB 0m 3 1 I972 SHEET 1 BF 2 -FIG.5

E. HENRY CONRAD lxvExToR.

PATENTED nm a 1 1912 SHEET 2 UF 2 -A///////////////////////// r //A/ E. HENRY CON L SCHIFFIJ-ENLBROIDERED PANEL AND KIT CONTAINING THE SAME taneous production of a great number of embroidered design units is, generally considered, a rapid and economical procedure, the speed and economy of such procedure is adversely afiected where the design unit consists of discrete, differently colored design elements, for the reason that the formation of each differently colored element of the embroidered design requires the rethreading of the needles of the machine with the appropriate differently colored yarn. Thus, the production of multi-colored embroidered designs on Schiffli machines slows the operation of such machines and increases the cost of their products. Further such multicolored panels are in fixed, final form and do not afford a purchaser an opportunity to exercise his or her own taste in effecting the final appearance of the panel.

It is an object of the present invention to provide Schiffli embroidered fabric panels which may be supplied to the consumer at lower cost and the design unit of which may be colored by the consumer as a doityourself leisure time activity and as an opportunity for the consumer to express personal artistic taste in the selection and combination of the colors for the different elements of the design unit.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide kits containing Schiffli embroidered panels of the character described together with materials for coloring the embroidered design, applicators and instructions for their use; thereby making available to the consumer Schiffli embroidered panels with embroidered design units which may be easily and conveniently colored and finished.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide kits of the character described which also contain a frame and framing accessories for the panel, to thereby increase the consumers activity, pleasure and satisfaction in the utilization of the kit and also reward the consumer with a work of art in the production of which he participated which is suitable and in form for display.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the Schiffli-embroidered panels and of the kits containing the same, of the present invention, will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the embodiments thereof shown in the accompanying drawings and from the description following. It is to be understood, however, that such embodiments are shown by way of illustration only, and without intent of limiting the invention to the specific details shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a colored and framed Schiffli embroidered panel of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view, on an enlarged scale of a Schiffli embroidered fabric panel, as made available to a consumer and before coloring;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2, of a modified form of panel;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a coloring material container and applicator that maybe packaged in the kit of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a guide sheet for coloring-the embroidered design .packaged in the kit;

FIG. 6 is a section taken on line 6.-6 of FIG. 1; and FIG. 7 is an exploded viewof the section of FIG. 6.

Broadly stated, the invention contemplates the embroidering of a design unit in mono-colored yarn on a fabric panel that has been pretreated to reject coloring or dyeing material that is compatible with or absorbable by the yarn, so that the design unit may be colored by the consumer, to suit his taste, without staining or spotting the background panel fabric surrounding the design unit. Commercially, such panel is to be packaged in a kit also containing coloring or dyeing material, applicators for such materials, where any are required, an instruction or guide sheet for the coloring of the design unit that may be used by the consumer instead of his own taste, and a frame and accessory framing material for the finished panel.

More specifically stated, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, FIG. 1 shows afabric panel, 10, on which is embroidered a design unit composed of a number of design elements, therein shown to comprise a flower having leaves, 12, a center, 14, and stems, 16, all suitable to be differently colored. The design unit, or at least a majorportion of its elements are embroidered in one, single color, of stitches formed of mono-color yarn, 18, (FIGS. 2 and 3), capable of receiving or absorbing coloring material, such as textile inks, dyes or water color paints, which the panel fabric 10 has been pre-treated to reject. As the method or process of treating fabrics to reject coloring materials is well known in the art and as such process does not constitute a part of the present invention, the details thereof are not thought necessary to be specifically set forth herein.

Preferably the yarn 18 may be of lightmono-color, such as pure white or natural white or ecru that will readily receive and show other colors applied thereto.

It will be apparent that a panel l0,-pre-treated to reject coloring fluids and having a wholly or partly uncolored design unit, may have the uncolored portions of the design colored by a consumer, as by the use of coloring fluids of divers colors applied'by a brush or pen or even with pencils or crayons, without risk of staining the background fabric of the panel adjacent to the design stained or soiled by the coloring material. Thus, as shown in FIG. 1, the leaf elements of the design are sharply defined and colored in gold; the center elements colored in red and likewise sharply defined; and the stems 16, colored in green.

When desired, or appropriate, a background may be imprinted upon the panel, to set off the embroidered design. Such modified embroideredpanel is shown in FIG. 3, where the background is shown to consist of clouds, 22.

It may here also be stressed that the entire'design unit need not be formed in uncolored or uni-colored yarn, left for coloring by the consumer, and that, when desired or suitable, portions or elements of the design may be embroidered in colored yarn. This may be especially true where the desired design effects may not be attained by the use of coloring material applied to uncolored design stitches, as when the desired effect may be attained only by the use of metallic thread or yarn, or similar instances.

Commercially, for the convenience of the consumers, a panel, such as or 10a which may be pretreated to reject coloring fluids and bearing a design unit portions of which or elements of which are embroidered in uncolored or bleached yarn, may be packaged in a kit with the materials for coloring such design portions or elements. Such coloring materials may comprise coloring fluids, such as inks, dyes or water color paints held in containers, such as bottles, indicated at 26. The kit may also include applicators for the coloring fluids, such as the brush, 28. Such coloring materials may, if desired, comprise felt or nylon tipped, colored pen brushes of the well-known type or colored pencils or crayons. The coloring materials may be provided in numbers permitting optional selections of colors for the various uncolored portions or elements of the design unit.

When desired, a printed guide chart may be packaged in the kit. Such chart may have the outline of the design unit and of the uncolored portions and elements thereof printed thereon, with the portions or elements of the design that are uncolored having directions indicating the color to be applied to the corresponding portions or elements on the panel. These directions may be provided on the chart imprinting the actual desired color on the chart or by printed indicias or legend keyed to the coloring material contained in the kit.

As the finished, fully colored panel will constitute a work of artistic merit, worthy of display, the kit will also contain means for displaying it. Such display means is shown to comprise a frame, 30, and accessory members necessary for securing the panel within the frame, such as the intermediate backing sheet, 32, and the outer backing board, 34.

it may here be stated that the finished, colored panel, besides being suitable for framing and display, may find numerous other uses, such the decoration of handbags, garments, pillows and bed covers, book covers, and others.

This completes the description of the Schifili-embroidered panels of the present invention and of the kits in which they may be packaged. It will be apparent that such panels and kits afford a relatively economical medium for a do-it-yourself leisure activity that is interesting, amusing and ofi'ers the user an opportunity to exercise manual skill and artistic taste, and provides the person finishing the decoration of the panel with a valuable, useful, ornamental and decorative end product. It will also be apparent that finished embroidered panel of the invention, because it may combine both, machine and hand decoration, may provide original and complex decorative effects not attainable with embroidered articles that are produced by machine alone or by hand alone.

It will be further apparent that numerous variations fluid and said applying means comprise fluid applicators.

3. The kit of claim 1, wherein a guide chart is enclosed therein for guiding the coloring of the uncolored embroidery threads.

4. The kit of claim 1, wherein means are enclosed for mounting said panel for display.

5. The kit of claim 4, wherein said display means comprises a frame for said panel and means securing said panel in said frame. 

1. As an article of commerce, a kit containing an ornamental fabric section having a Schiffli-embroidered design formed thereon, said fabric pre-treated to reject coloring media; at least a portion of said design formed of yarn capable of receiving and retaining said coloring media; and coloring media capable of being received and retained by said threads and of being rejected by said pre-treated fabric.
 2. The kit of claim 1, wherein said coloring media are fluid and said applying means comprise fluid applicators.
 3. The kit of claim 1, wherein a guide chart is enclosed therein for guiding the coloring of the uncolored embroidery threads.
 4. The kit of claim 1, wherein means are enclosed for mounting said panel for display.
 5. The kit of claim 4, wherein said display means comprises a frame for said panel and means securing said panel in said frame. 